New defibrillator for Lees community is ready for use

A new defibrillator has been installed at Hey St John church on Stamford Road in Lees and is now available for use 24/7 by the community.

It was funded by Liberal Democrat Councillors Alicia Marland, Sam Al-Hamdani and Mark Kenyon to replace a device where active parts were no longer available to purchase.   

All defibrillator devices require pads and batteries which have a “use by” date so when the pads expiry date had passed, it was no longer a viable device recognised by Northwest Ambulance Service.  

Councillor Marland said: “I was delighted that the Church Warden reached out for support when the device pads expired and that I was able to advise on suitable sources for a replacement.   

“These are costly medical devices, so it was important to financially support the church on this project as it is such an invaluable piece of kit in any community.  Knowing where your nearest defibrillator is located is vital as every second counts when a cardiac arrest has happened and early invention significantly increases a person’s chances of survival.” 

Using an available defibrillator requires no formal training. When you open the device, it will immediately be ready for use, and it provides immediate voice and visual prompts that guide you through every step of the emergency.  

Councillor Marland added: “It contains everything you need to perform resuscitation and I never forget the brutal reality of what a paramedic once told me – if a person has had a cardiac arrest, then they are already dead as they have no heartbeat however by stepping up to perform CPR you are giving them a chance to live again.” 

 To find out where your nearest available defibrillator is visit: https://www.defibfinder.uk/